The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration issued a Request for Information for a company to lead the build-out of a new air traffic control system.
The integrator will play a key role in the Trump administration’s vision for building the “air traffic system of the future,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said.
“We have an antiquated air traffic control system that is showing its age,” Duffy said. “In order to implement President Trump and I’s plan for a brand-new system, we need the technical expertise and management experience from the best innovators in the world.”
Interested companies can attend an Industry Days event on June 10-12 hosted by the FAA and Duffy to discuss the plan, officials said. Companies will have to register to attend the event.
Faa officials said replacing the current system will enhance safety and reduce delays. The plan to build a new system will also ensure air traffic controllers have a system they can rely on, officials said. To facilitate the build-out of the new system, officials said they were looking for innovative ideas, new technologies and new procurement strategies.
“This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for a new, world-class air traffic system,” FAA Acting Administrator Chris Rocheleau said. “We need world-class innovators to step up and tell us the best way to build it.”
As part of the plan, the FAA said it will replace core infrastructure including radar, software, hardware and telecommunications networks and will equip facilities with better technology that will help reduce outages, improve efficiency and reinforce safety.
The business that becomes the integrator will manage the efforts, including acquiring capabilities and deploying the new technology. The first step to implementing the plan, officials said, was seeking information about how best to implement a new air traffic system.